The Connection Magazine A.I.M. Mutual Fall 2016 | Page 13

The Fundamentals THE CHARACTERISTIC OF ENERGIZERS THAT MOVES ORGANIZATIONS TO THEIR HIGHEST LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE IS THAT OF A DREAMER. successful leader is concerned about repeating the same message too often. Yet his or her supporting team usually feels that they cannot hear the message often enough. 5. Where procedure manuals give rules, company stories offer morals. “Storytelling’s power is timeless,” says author Tom Peters. “The marketplace is demanding that we burn the policy manuals and knock off the incessant memo writing; there’s just no time. It also demands we empower everyone to constantly take initiatives. It turns out stories are a—if not, the—leadership answer to both issues.” 6. Energizers know the value of the motto, “If it’s not broke, break it.” They work outside normal rules and, thus, stand out in the eyes of customers and their own associates. By unleashing your creativity, you can spark the energy within your organization. Even simple changes can mean a great deal to your unit or company. 7. Great benefits can be found in delegating without abdicating. Remain accountable for your group, but don’t allow a decision to be made at a higher level in the organization than it needs to be. Your associates know the daily specifics of their jobs better than you do. Foster an environment in which they design their function in a framework consistent with the company’s mission and values. 8. Energizers understand the Pygmalion effect. People usually accomplish what they believe they are expected to do. If we have high expectations as leaders and mentors, our associates probably will show excellent productivity. Your associates actually will rise to the level of your trust or fall to the level of your mistrust. 9. Energizing and leading people are more powerful tools than managing a process. By building trust with associates and customers, leaders and mentors are able to put together the team described in his or her mission statement. People care more about what’s in a manager’s heart than about what is in his or her head. 10. Energizers surround themselves with associates who are positive and realistic, rather than negative. A can-do attitude characterizes energized leaders and mentors. It is seen in their unwillingness to take “No” or “It’s never been done before” for an answer. The characteristic of energizers that moves organizations to their highest levels of performance is that of a dreamer. Fred Smith’s college term paper was graded “impractical”—but he used it as the basis for building Federal Express. Steven Jobs acted on his dream of having personal computers in every home and classroom. Energizers manage their dreams. Each of us has the same capacity with regard to our business. If we resist change, we will only fall further behind. If we merely go along with change, then we will just keep pace with it. But if we create change, we will be the ones who lead it. FALL 2016 SUPPLEMENT The Ideal Team CONTENT Player How to Recognize and Cultivate The Three Essential Virtues BY: PATRICK LENCIONI The Ideal Team Player, Lencioni tells the story of Jeff Shanley, a leader desperate to save his uncle’s company by restoring its cultural commitment to teamwork. Jeff must crack the code on the virtues that real team players possess, and then build a culture of hiring and development around those virtues. Beyond the fable, Lencioni presents a practical framework and actionable tools for identifying, hiring, and developing ideal team players. Hyper Sales Growth Street-Proven Systems & Processes. How to Grow Quickly & Profitably. BY: JACK DALY Jack Daly is an international expert in sales and sales management. A deep dive into three critical areas includes: 1. Bu